Jogi, 31 MLAs suspend from Chhattisgarh Assembly

     Raipur, February 3, 2009: Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and 31 other MLAs from the main opposition Congress were today suspended from the Chhattisgarh Assembly for violating the House rule.

     Including Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey, Deputy Opposition Leader Ram Pukar Singh and Jogi, a total of 32 MLAs are suspended from the house for the day for entering the well of the house, which is violation of the house rule, Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik told the state assembly.

     Earlier the members from the main opposition did not allow the house to transact the business smoothly demanding a house committee probe into the killing of 17 people in Singaram by police on January 8 last.

     After attempting to raise the matter through an Adjournment motion, Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey said they just wanted a house committee probe into the matter.

     However, the state BJP government said the house can not take up the matter in the assembly as it was sub judice, which provoked the opposition to create an uproar forcing the house for a brief adjournment.

     After clash between the opposition and treasury benches the Congress members trooped into the well of the house raising slogans demanding a house committee probe into the Singaram killing, for which 32 MLAs were suspended for the day for violating the house rule.

     When Police and the state government claimed 17 naxalites were killed in an encounter in Singaram area of Dantewada district, some locals and Congress party claimed the victims were innocent villagers.